French installation company Henri has been shortlisted as finalist in the 2017 CEDIA Awards for this impressive Crestron controlled project in the Best Home Integration £360,000 and over category.
CE Pro Europe spoke with Michael and Lionel Sherman, from the company for the full picture on this luxury 32,000 sq.ft villa which features many innovative water zones, a car museum and a complete home cinema.
In 1961, Henri Sherman started working as a self-employed electrician. The care he put into his work and the service he gave his clients made the company grow. His son, Lionel, entered the company in 1982. He worked for about ten years as an electrician, before running the company. His track record combined with the quality of his employees pushed the company further and Henri entered the premium market. Lionel developed an interest in home automation technologies and following a trip to the U.S. where the concept was first emerging, the company became the first importer of home automation solutions in France.
A third generation joined the firm when Michael, Lionel’s son, joined the company in 2010. After graduating with an engineering degree, Michael started to work as a project manager and quickly became the technical director of the company. His organisational expertise has brought the company better work methods to handle more complex and ambitious projects that this home represents.
The younger generations are proud to continue with the values and passion instilled by ‘Monsieur Henri’ right from the start.
Lionel explains: “I am proud of what we have achieved since my father created the company. We have been able to develop our skills and innovate to successfully undertake the projects that made our reputation.
“But keeping the values my father has passed down is what makes me the proudest. The quality of work, the dedication and respect for clients. A family spirit prevails at our company, a passion you can feel and which is the main ingredient of each of our projects.”
Project focused
So how did this most modern of homes get the technology it deserved? Michael explains: “We got along (with the client) from the beginning and had the chance to be closely in touch with him throughout the project.
“He is a very pleasant and passionate man and a clearly brilliant mind. He got very interested in his technology project, understanding everything very quickly, knowing the product brands and references, asking questions about audio and video formats, protocols and so on. It is for us the best possible context because we got to design and to improve this project with him and make sure everything fitted his needs.
“The project itself is a 3000 square-meter (32000 square-feet) villa, divided into five floors. For us being based in Paris, we also had to manage logistics in order to deliver the project over there, but we were very proud the client contacted us and decided to work with us even regarding the distance and additional cost.”
Michael adds: “Concerning the main objectives and design criteria for this project, there were four of them: Cutting-edge technology, scalability, total integration and easiness of use. Cutting-edge technology implying to select the best products for each system, making sure the audio format is the best, the video resolution also and so on. Because the project lasted very long, but we had the chance to be involved quite soon, we made our design evolve as many times as necessary in order to provide the best.
“Scalability, because even if the client knew he would get the best existing technology at the delivery date of his house, he wanted to anticipate on possible future equipment. Our engineering design reflects this as we tried to prepare cabling and integration for technologies to come.”
The company also wanted to achieve total integration, first in terms of technical integration, meaning every electronic system of the house, whether it was installed by Henri or not, is a part of the automation system and can be controlled and monitored. Another big challenge was getting the technology to fit with the home’s cutting edge and very high-concept architectural design. Finally, ease of use was a big factor for the client, this was a big test of the company’s ability to deliver complex hidden systems, with easy to control interfaces.
Michael also explains: “I think there was one major technical challenge on the project, it was to meet the client’s requirement in terms of ‘total home control’. As you can see in our block diagram schematic (below) there is not ONE electronic system of this house that isn’t integrated with our automation one. It is challenging in many ways.
“First, the long engineering process in order to check the feasibility, get the adequate protocols, test the products in our workshop in order to validate the complete functioning even before installation.
“Then, the coordination with the other companies, the specialist for network, the one for HVAC, the one for the swimming pool, for the elevator, the fire-place, the security and so on. Being at the centre of this team, and with the trust of the client, we had the challenge to manage this integration project for all of them.
“Finally, the challenge of making all these technical aspects disappear when the client lives in his house creating simple and intuitive user interfaces in order to improve the client well-being at home.”
Henri’s diagram shows the complexity of the project
Project detail
The project delivers control of lighting from all of the rooms and zones of the house, selecting scenarios or just individual parts as required. The client can also control the indoor roller-shades, outdoor sun blinds and motorised windows. Each room can have its temperature set independently from the rest of the house, and users can also turn on the various TVs and watch channels from different decoders, Apple TV, Blu-Ray player, movie server, local HDMI plug, CCTV cameras or BMS web interface. When its music time, the home owners can turn to AirPlay, a music server or electronic Piano. Internal comms are promoted via touch-screens, iPad and the comprehensive phone system. Those inside can answer a video-call from the outdoor door-station and unlock the automatic doors or call the elevator. Weather info is available from the home’s own weather station and users can also get information on power monitoring information as well as other house notifications and alerts.
Some other key areas of control include the cinema room, the automatic fire place in the living room, as well as the special pool features including swimming against the tide, the water cascade and also control of the waters’ temperature. Another really cool area of control is in the garage where the car turntable can be controlled, most often from the client’s smartphone.
The car turntable can be controlled via smart phone
Car mad
Clearly the client loves his cars and the home has its very own car museum.
Michael explains: “In the museum we manage lights, temperature and so on as in any other room. Music is also played through two column speakers (CM8 from Bowers&Wilkins) and there is also a complete LED wall, linked to the digital media matrix allowing us to display any source.”
One of the most striking features of the home is the fact that the pool drops down into the floor below, fully visible to those in the living space below. Not just a huge physical challenge in building the structure itself, but from Henri’s point of view, there was some nice opportunities here too. Users can control the whole swimming pool system from below and activate the ‘bubbles’ system, so the pool is not just fun to use, it becomes a really impressive aesthetic feature too.
A home with lots of water features including saunas as well as the pool, Michael explains: “Being able to fully control those systems wasn’t easy. Each water element is installed by a different specialist, with a different protocol, etc. At the end, it is completely transparent for the client and that is the essence of what we do. The installation is very technical because of all the integrated systems, but easy to use for the client. Controlling swimming pool, sauna, hammam was a challenge as it was for elevator, car turntable and weather station.”
The pool is a really unique feature of the home
Award winning?
As a finalist in the CEDIA 2017 Awards in the new category of Best Home Integration £360,000 and over category, naturally the company is hoping that once again they will win over the judges.
Michael explains: “We have entered the CEDIA Awards several times over the years. We have already won two, one in 2008 and one in 2011, and we have been finalists twice since then too.
“My main interest in entering is towards my teams. It is a recognition for us to be able to compete with the finest CI companies in the EMEA region.”
Michael enthuses: “I am already proud of each person working at Henri as they give their best on each project. They are involved and passionate and winning an Award is a way for us to be even more proud! The ceremony itself is always great to attend. I like to meet and discuss with fellow CI companies. Meeting and sharing with those professionals is an important part of my membership to CEDIA.”
Who knows, the Awards do get some really out there installs these days, but we would have to say this must be in with a decent shout. The most important part however of any install is if the client likes it of course, and here the company would appeared to have delivered, as the home owner says: “We have been delighted to realise our project with the guidance and support of Henri company, both on the professional and human aspects, and it deserves to be underlined because it is rare.
“The technical solution they have deployed is highly integrated and we strongly thank Henri company for accepting this challenge. It brings us an entire satisfaction in our daily use. A truly remarkable work.”
The CEDIA Awards takes place at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter on Friday September 29.
Kit List
Multi-Room
- Multiple CanalSat TV Decoder
- 1 x Apple Mac Pro Computer
- 1 x 4K Blu-Ray player from Oppo
- 11 x Apple TV 64 Go
- 1 x Strato Home Media Server from Kaleidescape
- 5 x 4K DigitalMedia 8G+ Transmitter Wall Plate from Crestron
- 1 x USB/Airplay Streamer NSP1 from Crestron
- 3 x 1 single-source music streamer from Autonomic
- 1 x DigitalMedia Matrix 32×32 from Crestron
- 11 x 4K DigitalMedia 8G+ Receiver & Room Controller from Crestron
- 1 x High-Definition Digital Video Processor DVPHD from Crestron
- 2 x Signal Processor with Digital Audio Bus from BSS Soundweb
- 1 x I/O Expander with Digital Audio Bus from BSS Soundweb
- 8 x Digital Input Card from BSS Soundweb
- 34 x In-ceiling speaker from Sonance
- 4 x In-ceiling speaker from Bowers&Wilkins
- 4 x In-ceiling speaker (small depth) from Bowers&Wilkins
- 2 x In-wall speaker from Bowers&Wilkins
- 4 x In-ceiling speaker from Bowers&Wilkins
- 8 x Suspended speaker from Elipson
- 2 x Waterproof outdoor speaker AM-1 from Bowers&Wilkins
- 2 x Cube 400 outdoor speaker from Architettura Sonora
- 2 x 3-way column speaker CM8 from Bowers&Wilkins
Play Room
- 3 x 4K HDMI over HDBaseT Extender with Analogue Audio from Crestron
- 1 x Home Cinéma 7.1 processor amplifier from Integra
- 2 x In-ceiling speaker from Bowers&Wilkins
- 3 x In-wall speaker from Bowers&Wilkins
- 1 x Active subwoofer (200W) from Bowers&Wilkins
Snooker Room
- 1 x Audio over CAT5 Extender from Crestron
- 1 x Stereo pre-amplifier and processor CP-800 from Classé Audio
- 1 x Amplifier 2 x 300 W (8Ω) CA-2300 from Classé Audio
- 2 x High Fidelity 3-way column speaker 803D, with a diamond tweeter from Bowers&Wilkins
TV Lounge
- 1 x Home Cinéma 7.1 processor amplifier from Integra
- 5 x In-ceiling speaker from Sonance
- 1 x Active subwoofer (200W) from Bowers&Wilkins
Centralised Control
- 13 x 10.1 inches TSW in-wall Touch Screen from Crestron
- 5 x Handheld Touch Screen Remote TSR302 from Crestron
- 1 x Waterproof Handheld Remote from Crestron
- 7 x In-wall motorised support for iPad Mini from iDock
- 1 x PRO3 3-Series Control System from Crestron
AV Racks
- 3 x 26 inches and 43 Units rack from Middle Atlantic
- 2 x 8 Port IEC Power Distribution switch from Pakedge
Lighting control
- 2 x Processor from Lutron
- 2 x Bus power supply from Lutron
- 21 x 2 Dali lines module from Lutron
- 13 x 4 Dimmable circuits module from Lutron
- 22 x 4 On/Off circuits module from Lutron
- 7 x Dry contacts interface from Lutron
- 80 x Signature model keypad from Lutron
Blinds and Motorised Windows
- 1 x Processor from Lutron
- 1 x Bus power supply from Lutron
- 13 x 4 motors module from Lutron
- 4 x Power supply panels for up to 10 Sivoia motors from Lutron
- 17 x Dry contacts interface from Lutron
- 37 x Sivoia Roller Simple blind mechanism from Lutron
Cinema Room
- 1 x Starry sky from HTE
- 1 x Storm Wall acoustic treatment from HTE
- 1 x Floor treatment (carpet, stair edges, podium,…) from HTE
- 1 x Custom projection window
- 9 x Cinema chair from Fortress
- 3 x In-wall front speaker CWM8.3 from Bowers&Wilkins
- 6 x Surround and audio 3D in-wall speaker CWM8.5 from Bowers&Wilkins
- 5 x Surround and audio 3D in- ceiling speaker CCM8.5 from Bowers&Wilkins
- 1 x Voice of god (Auro 3D) in-ceiling speaker CWM8.5 from Bowers&Wilkins
- 4 x Passive subwoofers CT-SW15 from Bowers&Wilkins
- 1 x Professional projector (custom support included) from Christie CP4220
- 1 x Custom-size acoustic transparent fixed screen with 4 motorised masks (horizontal/vertical black borders) from Screen Excellence
- 1 x Audio processor (Auro3D and Dolby Atmos) ALTITUDE32-1632 from Trinnov
- 1 x Video processor RADIANCEPRO-4440 from Lumagen
- 3 x Amplifier 5 x 300W CT-5300 from Classé Audio
- 4 x Amplifier 1 x 1000W SA1000 from Bowers&Wilkins
- 1 x 4K DigitalMedia 8G+ Transmitter wall plate from Crestron
- 1 x Strato Home Media Server from Kaleidescape
- 1 x 3-Series Control System from Crestron
- 1 x In-wall motorised support for iPad Mini from iDock
- 1 x 2 Dali lines module from Lutron
- 1 x 4 dimmable circuits module from Lutron
Televisions
- 3 x 85-inch Bravia 4K television from Sony Pro
- 5 x 55-inch Bravia 4K television from Sony Pro
- 1 x 49-inch Bravia 4K television from Sony Pro
- 1 x 43-inch Bravia 4K television from Sony Pro
- 1 x TV Lift mechanism from Future Automation
- 1 x Articulated TV Wall Mount from Future Automation
- 1 x TV Ceiling Mount from Future Automation
- 1 x TV Floor Mount from Future Automation
- 3 x Large Screen Fixed Wall Mount from Future Automation
- 2 x Ultrathin fixed wall mount TV support from Vogel’s
- 1 x 55-inch mirror television behind a custom mirror with a superclear finish from Agath
- 1 x 32-inch mirror television behind a custom mirror with a superclear finish from Agath